Ventilated awning

ABSTRACT

A louver awning of resilient material wherein each louver has an upwardly rolled upper edge and a downwardly rolled lower edge, the louvers being supported between spaced stringers, the stringers having louver receivers formed in upstanding edges thereof, one receiver being in the form of a curved socket to receive one rolled edge, the other receiver being a curved projection to receive the other rolled louver edge, the louvers being reversible about their longitudinal axes to expose first one side then the other to exterior view, and the louvers being held by their receivers under transverse tension to hold them in place without rattling.

UnitedStates Patent [191 Albany VENTILATED AWNING [76] Inventor: StanleyJ. Albany, 9951 Voyager Circle, Huntington Beach, Calif. 92646 22 Filed:Sept. 22, 1969 21 Appl.No.: 859,649

[52] U.S. C1. ..52/78, 52/75, 52/473 [51] Int. Cl. ..E04f 10/08 [58]Field of Search..... 52/74-78, 473-478, 529-630 [56] References CitedUNITED STATES PATENTS 6/1958 Ruggles .;.52/7s FOREIGN PATENTS ORAPPLICATIONS Australia ..52 75 Canada ..52/77 1451 May I, 1973 241,26311/1962 Australia ..52/78 Primary Examiner-Henry C. Sutherland AssistantExaminer-Leslie A. Braun Attorney-Allan D. Mockabee [5 7] ABSTRACT Alouver awning of resilient material wherein each louver has an upwardlyrolled upper edge and a downwardly rolled lower edge, the louvers beingsupported between spaced stringers, the stringers having louverreceivers formed in upstanding edges thereof, one receiver being in theform of a curved socket to receive one rolled edge, the other receiverbeing a curved projection to receive the other rolled louver edge, thelouvers being reversible about their longitudinal axes to expose firstone side then the other to exterior view, and the louvers being held bytheir receivers under transverse tension to hold them in place withoutrattling.

1 Claim, 4 Drawing Figures Patented May 1, 1973 INVENTOR j/ZM/dZ/J AZ54M) VENTILATED AWNING PRIOR ART Thfollowing prior art was known to meat the time of my application for patent:

U.S. Pat. No. 2,814,079, issued Nov. 26,1957 to V.Van Fleet et al.

U.S. Pat. No. 3,015,135, issued Jan. 2,1962 to R.K.

Dean et al.

U.S. Pat. No. 3,098,267, issued July 23,1963 to R.K.

Dean et a1.

U.S. Pat. No. 3,216,538, issued Nov. 9,1965 to L. C.

Miller U.S. Pat. No. 3,228,159, issued Jan. 11, 1966 to F.Vecchiarelliet al.

U.S. Pat. No. 3,263,735,

F.Vecchiarelli et a1.

U.S. Pat. No. 3,336,705, issued Aug. 22,1967 to F.Vecchiarelli et al.

Of these patents, Vecchiarelli et al. U.S. Pat. No. 3,228,159 and thepatents to Dean show louvers with both edges rolled downwardly. Theselouvers of course cannot be reversed in position to bring theirundersides upward so that the unweathered and cleaner looking paint willbe exposed to view after the original upwardly disposed side has becomeweathered and unsightly. Also, they are incapable of being placed undertension in the manner of my louver with its oppositely rolled upper andlower edges.

The patent to Van Fleet shows upwardly and downwardly rolled edges butaccording to the disclosure and the statement of the patentee, thelouvers cannot be mounted by rolling the upper edges into their issuedAug. 2,1966 to receivers and then snapping the lower edges over theirreceivers, it being necessary in Van Fleet to slide the louvers endwisewith the upper edges entering the slots 44 in the stringers, and thelower edges receiving endwise the rounded projections 42 of thereceivers. Also, the structure disclosed by Van Fleet does not permitreversal of the louvers.

. DISCLOSURE The principal objects of the invention are to provide anawning construction of louvers, preferably of a thin light resilientmetal, such as aluminum, which louvers are so constructed that they canbe conveniently mounted upon supporting stringers and held in positionunder transverse tension to secure them tightly against rattling in thewind and displacement, wherein the louvers are oppositely rolled insofaras their upper and lower edges are concerned, and their edges rolledsubstantially identically so that the louvers can be reversed abouttheir longitudinal axis to present one or the other side upwardly sothat when painted, the upper side which becomes weathered after a periodof time, can be disposed downwardly to present to the weather and toexterior view the better preserved painted coating of the underside, toprovide louvers which are supported in spaced overlapping relationshipto permit light FIG. 1 is a digrammatic view of a portion of a windowandframe with an embodiment of the invention in conjunction therewith inexploded form;

FIG. 2 is a vertical sectional view through a portion of an awning on asomewhat larger scale;

FIG. 3 is a plan view of a portion of one of the louver supportingstringers indicating the manner of its formation and the shape thereof;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary detail of a portion of a louver edge showing aslightly different form of edge.

In the drawing there is shown a window frame 6 within which.v is locateda window sash 8. Suitably secured to the frame 6 is a bracket 10 towhich is pivotally connected a brace 12. The outer end of the brace isapertured as at 14 to receive a pi ot pin which also passes throughcomplementary aperttires 16 in the lower end of a diagonally disposedlouveir supporting stringer 18. The upper end of the stringer isprovided with apertures 20 to receive a pivot bolt, 22 which is adaptedto extend through apertures 24 in a supporting bracket 26 which may beconnected to a mounted plate 28 suitably secured to the upper crossmember of the window frame 6. j

The stringers 18 are adapted to support a plurality of horizontallyextending louvers 30. Each louver has an upwardly rolled upper edge 32and a downwardly rolled lower edge 34. It is preferred that the twoedges be identical or nearly so. Each stringer 18} comprises a pair ofside walls 36 having a series of diagonally disposed upper edge portions38. At the upper end of each edge portion 38 is a curved or roundedsocket 40 having a stop 42 extending into it at one end of the curve. Atthe other end of each straight diagonal portion 38 is a roundedprojection 44. The curvature of the socket 40 is preferably the same asthe outer curvature of the upper rolled edge 32 of each louver, and thecurvature of the projection 44 is preferably the same as the innercurvature of the downwardly rolled lower louver edge 34. A socket 40 anda projection 44 provide receivers for the two rolled edges of eachlouver.

A louver is inserted as shown in FIG. 2. Its lower edge is tiltedupwardly somewhat away from the diagonal stringer edge 38,.the upperrolled edge 32 of the louver is inserted into the rounded socket 40 andthe louver is then rotated in a clockwise direction as viewed in FIG. 2until the extreme edge 46 of the rolled louver edge 32 engages the stop42. At this point the louver has not yet reached the position where itslower rolled edge 34 has snapped into position around the receiverprojection 44. However, the metal can be flexed transversely so thatsaid rolled edge 34 will snap over the rounded projection 44, holdingthe louver tightly in place and under transverse flexure so that it willremain in position without rattling.

As viewed in FIG. 2, it will be seen that the lower rolled edge of onelouver lies outwardly with respect to and above the upper rolled edge ofthe louver therebelow, or diagonallydownwardly therefrom. The lower edgeof one louver is spaced from the upper edge of the next adjacent louverto provide ventilation and light between the louvers. This spacing isnot great and unless precipitation is accompanied by wind, there is nogreat likelihood of moisture entering between the louvers and into anopen window. However, rain is frequently accompanied by wind, and inorder to prevent the blow by of rain to the underside of the awning andinto the window, the upper edge of each louver is rolled upwardly as at32. In this manner adequate light and ventilation are provided with theprevention of the entrace of practially all precipitation.

By reason of the fact that the edges of the louvers are rolledoppositely and approximately alike, the louvers can be reversed so thattheir original lower surface can be disposed upwardly. This is ofconsiderable value since the louvers are painted and the original uppersides eventually become unsightly because of their exposure to the sunand other weather conditions. There fore, when the louvers are reversedin position, their fresher looking undersides can be disposed upwardlyand outwardly where they are more exposed to view, as well as providinga practically new coat of protection against the weather.

In FIG. 4 there is shown a louver edge 34A which is slightly reverselyrolled tofaciltate snapping of the lower edge of the louver over therounded projection 44. If used this feature constitutes a very slightdeparture from the general curvature of the edge and therefore does notinterfere with reversal of the louver as mentioned above.

FIG. 3 shows the material of the stringer 18 in the form of a flat sheetand with the projections and sockets or recesses for the louvers stampedtherefrom. When the stringer is completed, lateral portions thereof arefolded upwardly along the dotted lines 50 to provide the U-shape crosssection shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

While I have spoken of rolled edges for the louvers, it is to beunderstood that this term is also meant to include edges which may beangularly bent.

It will of course be understood that various changes can be made in theform, details, arrangement and proportions of the various parts withoutdeparting from the spirit of the invention.

sockets comprising receivers for the rolled edges of said louvers, eachlouver, when mounted on the stringer, having its upper edge turnedupwardly and disposed in a receiver socket and having its lower edgeturned downwardly and disposed about a receiver projection, the adjacentedges of adjacent louvers being spaced from each other sufficiently sothat an arc in continuation of the curvature of one of said adjacentlouver edges will not intersect an arc in continuation of the curvatureof the other of said adjacent louver edges, whereby direct rays of lightwill be admitted between said adjacent edges without angular deflection,and the receiver for one rolled edge comprising said socket into whichthe edge is positioned by rotation of the louver about its longitudinalaxis, said socket having a stop therein for limiting rotation of theedge of the louver at a point wherein he other edge is positioned byrotation of the louver about its longitudinal axis, said socket having astop therein for limiting rotation of the edge of the louver at a pointwherein the other edge of the louver is not in position over saidreceiver projection, and the louver being transversely resilient topermit said other edge to snap over said projection after rotation ofthe first mentioned edge has been halted by said stop.

1. An awning comprising at least one stringer for supporting a pluralityof horizontal louvers, said string having an upper end adapted forattachment adjacent a window opening, means for holding the stringer atan angle to the vertical and in an attitude extending downwardly andoutwardly from a window, and a plurality of louvers, wherein theimprovement comprises: said louvers having oppositely rolled upper andlower longitudinal edges defining open hook forms, said stringer havinga plurality of projections thereon and having a plurality of sockets,the projections and sockets comprising receivers for the rolled edges ofsaid louvers, each louver, when mounted on the stringer, having itsupper edge turned upwardly and disposed in a receiver socket and havingits lower edge turned downwardly and disposed about a receiverprojection, the adjacent edges of adjacent louvers being spaced fromeach other sufficiently so that an arc in continuation of the curvatureof one of said adjacent louver edges will not intersect an arc incontinuation of the curvature of the other of said adjacent louveredges, whereby direct rays of light will be admitted between saidadjacent edges without angular deflection, and the receiver for onerolled edge comprising said socket into which the edge is positioned byrotation of the louver about its longitudinal axis, said socket having astop therein for limiting rotation of the edge of the louver at a pointwherein the other edge is positioned by rotation of the louver about itslongitudinal axis, said socket having a stop therein for limitingrotation of the edge of the louver at a point wherein the other edge ofthe louver is not in position over said receiver projection, and thelouver being transversely resilient to permit said other edge to snapover said projection after rotation of the first mentioned edge has beenhalted by said stop.